Lost Creek (Spring River tributary) facts for kids

Lost Creek is a small stream that flows through two states: Newton County, Missouri and Ottawa County, Oklahoma. It's like a smaller river that eventually joins a bigger one, which in this case is the Spring River. Think of it as a helper stream, bringing its water to the larger river.

Lost Creek: A Journey Through Two States

Where Does Lost Creek Start?

Lost Creek begins its journey in Missouri, about three miles west of a town called Neosho, Missouri. This starting point is called the "headwaters." It's like the very beginning of the stream, where the water first bubbles up or collects. At this spot, the land is quite high, about 1,180 feet above sea level.

Lost Creek's Path

From its start, Lost Creek flows mainly towards the northwest. As it continues, it makes a turn and heads southwest, passing just south of a community named Racine. The stream keeps flowing southwest, going through the town of Seneca, Missouri. After Seneca, Lost Creek crosses the border and enters Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, it travels southwest, running alongside a major road called U.S. Route 60.

Where Does Lost Creek End?

Lost Creek finishes its journey by flowing into the Spring River. This meeting point is now part of a large body of water called the Grand Lake of the Cherokees. Before the lake was created, the stream joined the Spring River near Wyandotte. At that time, the elevation where they met was about 741 feet above sea level.

How Lost Creek Got Its Name

The name "Lost Creek" has an interesting story! Early settlers who came to the area found it hard to find the stream. They had descriptions of where it should be, but it was often difficult to locate. Because it seemed to "get lost" or was hard to discover, they decided to call it Lost Creek.